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Island Hopping in Surigao

Whenever I hear “Siargao” and “Surigao”, I could only think of “surfing” and “Enchanted River”. I never knew about its surrounding islands. We went on to try island hopping.

From the resort, we rode a habal-habal to Dapa Port where our banca was docked.

Banca Fee: Php 5,000 (whole day use)

Itinerary: Dapa Port-Bucas Grande-Naked Island-Guyam Island-Dapa Port

Dapa Port to Bucas Grande: 2.5 to 3 hours

At the Dapa Port. There were a lot of Stingless Jellyfishes in the area. According to our boatman, the temperature was so hot that they had to go up to the surface. Too bad I wasn’t able to get photos of them.

Fishing Boats

The calmest sea that I’ve ever seen.

When you’re on a boat for almost three hours…

Our boatman looking at Bucas Grande from afar.

Bucas Grande is an island in the Mindanao region, Philippines. The island is contiguous with the municipality of Socorro, Surigao del Norte which is composed of 14 barangays. Its area is 128 square kilometres (49 sq mi). (Wikipedia)

This is where you should register first and pay the fees. We arrived at around 11 a.m. and it was already very hot.

Fees: (Subject to change)

Jellyfish Sanctuary – Php 100

Sohoton Tour Pump Boat – Php 500

Guide – Two guides per boat at Php 165 each

Life vest and helmet rental: Php 80

Docking fee per boat: Php 100

Environment fee: Php 50

Entrance fee: Php 50

We chose the Jellyfish Sanctuary and the Sohoton Cove Tour. There are other activities and packages that you may be interested in. Please check this.

Tourists.

Bucas Grande Highlights.

The Jellyfish Sanctuary. If you would like to touch a Jellyfish or even just dip your hands in the water, you are not allowed to wear any sunblock since it may harm them.

You can catch a Stingless Jellyfish with your hand (and you have to return it back to the water, of course).

Joan trying to catch this Jellyfish.

Hard hats on! We rode another banca to Sohoton Cove. We had two guides on the boat and one of them talked about the history of the place.

What made Sohoton enchanting was once you go inside the entrance, you’ll see a lot of hidden islets. There is only one way in and out. The islets look almost the same and you have to familiarize the landmarks; otherwise, you’ll get lost. There are also “mystical creatures” in the area. There was a story about a man who heard church bells in one of the islets. They said that only those who are kind and have a pure heart would hear it.

Horseshoe Rock. One of the landmarks in Sohoton. Do you think it looks like a horseshoe?

Inside the Hagukan Cave. It has a small entrance which was filled with sharp barnacles, rocks and shells. You have to swim carefully under the water so you won’t get hurt. Hagukan means “snoring” and it is called as such because the movement of the water inside the cave creates a “snoring” sound.

If you’re going inside the Magkukuob Cave and climb to the top, this is the easiest way to go down–jump 15 feet from the platform to the water. It wasn’t easy for someone like me who is afraid of heights. I dared myself anyway. LOL

My friends had contact with a Baranggay Captain (I’m sorry I forgot his name) who prepared lunch for us. We stopped at an island near Sohoton.

Ready for lunch!

After lunch, we traveled for another 3 hours to Naked Island. It’s just a heap of white sand which is similar to Camiguin’s White Island.

Sun-fried ladies on powdery white sand. When we arrived, we saw a fisherman preparing his catch to be dried on the island. At that time, it was just us and that fisherman.

Okay, enough photos of us. LOL

Last stop: Guyam Island. We didn’t stay long since it was about to get dark. Entrance fee: Php 10 Photo credit: crystalbatac.blogspot.com

The sun had set and it was time for us to go back to Dapa Port.

P.S. The photos were taken using a camera phone and a GoPro Hero 3. Credits to Cindy Lim, Venessa Noval and Joan Villahermosa for some of the photos that were used for this blog.

Jowlehleh

A blogger, traveller, shutterbug and try-athlete from Cebu City, Philippines.
She believes that travelling is not a luxury but a necessity.
She takes photos using her phone, digital camera, film and digital slr.
She loves to write about anything under the sky, whether gloomy or bright.